Written Answers Friday 1 October 2010

Scottish Executive

Class Sizes

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will introduce the regulations to establish a maximum primary one class size of 25 and when these will come into force.

Michael Russell: Regulations to establish a primary one class size maximum of 25 were laid on 16 September 2010. Subject to parliamentary approval they will come into force on 11 October 2010 and will apply for the 2011-12 academic year.

Education

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many additional training and volunteer places for young people leaving school, college and university in summer 2010 will be provided, and how much spending will be allocated to providing these places, as is outlined in its 2010-11 programme for government.

Michael Russell: A £6.5 million package of measures for summer leavers was announced on 17 June 2010 and includes:

  - a minimum of 800 targeted pathway opportunities;

  - a £1,000 incentive for up to 2,000 employers who take on a modern apprentice who is a care leaver or other young person who might otherwise struggle to get such an opportunity;

  - 60 places on a new entrepreneurial programme, and

  - 750 work placements for graduates.

  The Scottish Government expects to make an announcement on volunteering soon.

  This builds on £15.3 million for an additional 4,100 college places and access to the 5,000 modern apprenticeships announced previously to ensure young people can develop the skills they will need for future employment.

Education

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what analysis it has made of the Scottish Baccalaureate; when this was carried out, what the findings of it were and whether the findings are available publicly.

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what stakeholders have been consulted in analysing the Scottish Baccalaureate; on how many occasions they were consulted, and when this took place.

Michael Russell: The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) is currently conducting an evaluation of the Scottish Baccalaureates. A wide range of issues are being considered including the content of the qualification, uptake in the first year, quality assurance, approaches to delivery and learner destinations. The SQA has engaged with a range of stakeholders in undertaking this work including schools, colleges, learners and universities. The evaluation began in May 2010 and will conclude in the near future. The findings will be published on the SQA’s website by the end of the year.

Education

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what analysis it has made of the International Baccalaureate’s suitability for use in schools; when this was carried out, what the findings of it were and whether the findings are available publicly.

Michael Russell: The Scottish Government scoped the provision of the International Baccalaureate qualification in 2007 and consulted with independent schools offering the qualification at that time. This informed subsequent advice to ministers on the qualification. The Scottish Government concluded that future priority would be given to supporting the development and delivery of Scottish Baccalaureate qualifications.

Education

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what stakeholders it has consulted on the suitability of the International Baccalaureate for use in schools; on how many occasions they were consulted, and when this took place.

Michael Russell: The Scottish Government scoped the provision of the International Baccalaureate in 2007 and consulted with two of the three independent schools offering the qualification at that time.

Education

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what formal analysis it has made of the demand for the International Baccalaureate in schools; when this was carried out; what the findings of this assessment were, and whether these findings are available publicly.

Michael Russell: The Scottish Government has not carried out a formal analysis of the demand for the International Baccalaureate qualification. However, schools and colleges continue to have the flexibility to offer qualifications which best suit the needs of their pupils, including the International Baccalaureate.

Education

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what universities it has consulted regarding the suitability of the International Baccalaureate as a university entrance qualification; on how many occasions they were consulted, and when this consultation took place.

Michael Russell: The Scottish Government has not consulted universities on the International Baccalaureate and entry requirements.

Education

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will keep the potential for the introduction of the International Baccalaureate under review.

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when the decision was taken not to pursue the introduction of the International Baccalaureate in schools and which stakeholders were notified.

Michael Russell: The Scottish Government considered the International Baccalaureate qualification in 2007 and concluded that future priority would be given to supporting the development and delivery of Scottish Baccalaureate qualifications. Schools and colleges continue to have the flexibility to offer qualifications which best suit the needs of their pupils, including the International Baccalaureate.

Education

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider the possibility of extending the Scottish Baccalaureate into subject areas beyond languages and science.

Michael Russell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35971 on 22 September 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx .

Education

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to the promotion and rewarding of academic excellence at all levels in education including national prizes for top students and top performing schools.

Michael Russell: The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that excellence at all levels of education across Scotland is recognised, shared and promoted in a wide variety of ways. This includes support for a number of national prizes including:

  the Scottish Education Awards which celebrate the successes of pupils and staff in schools and early years establishments;

  the SQA Star Awards which celebrates the triumph and achievement of the best in Scottish education and training;

  the annual Scotland’s Colleges Awards for both student learning and college staff achievements;

  sponsorship of fellowships and awards through the Royal Society of Edinburgh for early career researchers; and

  a range of other award schemes which individuals and schools can participate in including the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, Eco-Schools, Rights Respecting Schools and the John Muir Trust Award.

Foster Care

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what shortage of fostering households exists, broken down by local authority.

Adam Ingram: This information is not held centrally.

  It is for local authorities to consider whether there are sufficient foster carers in their area.

Foster Care

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many children are waiting for a place in a fostering household to become available, broken down by local authority.

Adam Ingram: This information is not held centrally.

  The placement of children who have been assessed as needing to be looked after is a matter for local authorities.

Foster Care

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it takes to monitor the number of (a) local authority and (b) independent agency fostering households; how often it collates this, and what mechanisms are in place for taking action on any negative results.

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it takes to monitor the number of children who are waiting for a place in a fostering household to become available; how often it collates this, and what mechanisms are in place for taking action on any negative results.

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many times in the last 12 months it has contacted local authorities to obtain information regarding the number of children waiting for a place in a fostering household to become available.

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many times in the last 12 months it has contacted independent fostering agencies to obtain information regarding the number of children waiting for a place in a fostering household to become available.

Adam Ingram: The Scottish Government does not directly monitor how local authorities discharge their duties in relation to foster care. Local authorities are best placed to determine the level of services required to meet the needs of those children best suited to this type of care.

  The Looked After Children (Scotland) Regulations 2009 enable local authorities to enter into agreements with registered fostering services to provide services on their behalf. This allows the local authority to delegate some of their responsibilities to voluntary and independent agencies.

  Services are regulated and inspected by the Care Commission and where standards set out in legislation and the national care standards are not met, appropriate action is taken.

Foster Care

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many times in the last 12 months it has contacted local authorities to obtain information regarding (a) the number of fostering households that they have and (b) whether there are any shortages of supply of fostering households.

Adam Ingram: The Scottish Government does not collect this type of information. If is for local authorities to consider whether there are sufficient foster carers in their area.

  The Scottish Government is supporting local authorities by working closely with, and funding activities through, the Fostering Network which supports the recruitment and retention of foster carers.

Foster Care

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many times in the last 12 months it has contacted independent fostering agencies to obtain information regarding (a) the number of fostering households that they have and (b) whether there are any shortages of supply of fostering households.

Adam Ingram: I refer the member to the answers to questions S3W-36465 and S3W-36467 on 1 October 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Higher Education

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive (a) how many additional graduate placements and internships, as outlined in its 2010-11 programme for government, will be created, (b) how will these graduate placements and internships will be funded, (c) how much will they cost and (d) when they will be made available.

Michael Russell: (a) Over 750 new graduate placements are expected to be created over the next three years.

  (b) The Scottish Government has provided funding for 40 placements managed by the Centre for Scottish Public Policy (CSPP) under its "adopt an intern" programme. The placements provided by Scottish Enterprise (SE) and Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) under the TalentScotland graduate placement programme will be funded directly by Scottish businesses.

  (c) The Scottish Government has provided £60,000 to support a Project Manager for the first year of the TalentScotland graduate placement programme. SE, HIE and Skills Development Scotland are also supporting the TalentScotland graduate placement programme. The cost to Scottish Government for funding of the placements managed by CSPP is £132,000.

  (d) SE and HIE expect to have around 200 placements available each year. Some placements are already available and both SE and HIE are currently working with businesses in Scotland to identify further placements. Placements under the CSPP programme are already available.

Higher Education

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive (a) what form the improved advice and information for graduates outlined in its 2010-11 programme for government will take, (b) when this will become available and (c) how much funding will be allocated to this provision.

Michael Russell: (a) A new e-guidance facility and improved Shared Graduates Vacancy Service (SVS) website are being developed by the Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Service Scotland, They are also developing an interactive version of "What Do Graduates Do?" (WDGD) to help students and graduates choose career paths and identify employment opportunities.

  (b) The new WDGD website facility will be launched in mid-October 2010. The  e-guidance facility and the improvements to SVS are currently underway.

  (c) The Scottish Government is providing £80,000 to support these projects.

Higher Education

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the intake has been for each university in 2010-11 and how this compares with the five previous years.

Michael Russell: Final enrolment numbers for each Scottish higher education institution since 1999-2000 are available at the following link:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Lifelong-learning/StudentData2.

  These statistics are collated by the Higher Education Statistics Agency. The latest available data relates to the academic year 2008-09. Data for academic year 2009-10 will be available in January 2011. 2010-11 data will be available the following year.

Police

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scottish Government officials tried to stop Northern Constabulary from recruiting a new chief constable and, if so, when ministers first became aware of this.

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of claims that Scottish Government officials tried to stop Northern Constabulary from recruiting a new chief constable and, if so, when it became aware of this.

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken regarding claims that Scottish Government officials tried to stop Northern Constabulary from recruiting a new chief constable.

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scottish Government officials told members of the Northern Joint Police Board that there was no point wasting time and money recruiting a new chief constable because the future of the force was uncertain.

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of claims that Scottish Government officials told members of the Northern Joint Police Board that there was no point wasting time and money recruiting a new chief constable because the future of the force was uncertain.

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken regarding claims that Scottish Government officials told members of the Northern Joint Police Board that there was no point wasting time and money recruiting a new chief constable because the future of the force was uncertain.

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on any attempt by Scottish Government officials to stop Northern Constabulary from recruiting a new chief constable because they view the future of the force to be uncertain.

Kenny MacAskill: No. Scottish ministers are responsible for approving the appointment of Chief Officers. The Cabinet Secretary for Justice gave approval on 1 September 2010 for the Northern Joint Police Board to begin the process of recruiting a new chief constable and the post has now been advertised.

Road Safety

Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) speed cameras and (b) road accidents there have been in each year since 1997, also broken down by local authority.

Stewart Stevenson: Table 1 shows the number of speed cameras and road accidents in each year since 1997.

  Table 1: Total Number of Speed Cameras and Road Accidents Since 1997

  

Year
Number of Cameras
Year
Number of Accidents


1997-98
0
1997
16,646


1998-99
0
1998
16,519


1999-2000
0
1999
15,415


2000-01
29
2000
15,131


2001-02
29
2001
14,723


2002-03
206
2002
14,343


2003-04
403
2003
13,918


2004-05
483
2004
13,919


2005-06
499
2005
13,438


2006-07
509
2006
13,110


2007-08
507
2007
12,506


2008-09
492
2008
12,158


2009-10
460
2009
11,547



  Notes:

  1. The Scottish Safety Camera Programme started as a pilot in Strathclyde (Glasgow City area) in 2000. There are no records held centrally of the numbers of cameras in use on the road network before that year.

  2. The number of cameras include those located on the trunk road network.

  3. Camera numbers are recorded per financial year and road accidents are recorded per calendar year.

  Table 2 shows the number of sites where speed cameras are deployed under the Safety Camera Programme

  Table 2: Number of Cameras Operating under the Safety Camera Programme in Each Local Authority Area Since 2000 – Trunk Road Network Listed at End of Table

  

Local Authority
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009


Aberdeen City
-
-
23
26
26
30
19
17
17
16


Aberdeenshire
-
-
24
24
24
23
23
21
21
21


Angus
-
-
-
14
14
14
14
14
14
10


Argyll and Bute
-
-
-
-
-
1
1
1
1
1


Borders
-
-
-
49
57
57
57
60
55
55


Clackmannanshire
-
-
-
-
-
-
3
3
3
3


Dumfries and Galloway
-
-
-
10
10
10
10
7
7
6


Dundee City
-
-
-
7
7
7
7
7
7
6


East Ayrshire
-
-
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2


East Dunbartonshire
-
-
-
2
5
5
6
6
6
6


East Renfrewshire
-
-
-
10
10
13
13
13
10
9


Edinburgh City
-
-
-
39
45
45
44
44
29
29


Falkirk
-
-
-
-
-
-
6
6
6
6


Fife Council
-
-
33
33
39
40
42
42
42
25


Glasgow
23
28
35
36
34
34
35
35
34
31


Highland
-
-
-
-
4
4
4
4
4
3


Inverclyde
-
-
-
-
1
1
1
1
1
1


Moray Council
-
-
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
9


North Ayrshire
-
-
-
3
3
3
3
3
3
3


North Lanarkshire
-
-
5
6
9
10
9
9
9
8


Perth and Kinross
-
-
-
14
14
14
14
14
14
12


Renfrewshire
-
-
-
2
5
5
6
6
6
6


South Ayrshire
-
-
3
3
4
4
4
4
2
2


South Lanarkshire
-
-
-
4
8
10
10
11
11
11


Stirling
-
-
-
-
-
-
3
3
3
3


West Dunbartonshire
-
-
-
1
3
3
3
3
3
3


West Lothian
-
-
-
-
7
7
10
10
11
11


Trunk Road Network
35
40
71
108
142
147
151
151
161
162


Total
23
28
135
295
341
352
359
356
331
298



  Note: 1. All mainland local authorities and Transport Scotland are members of the Safety Camera Programme. There are no speed cameras currently operating in Eilean Siar, Orkney Island or Shetlands Island Council areas.

  Table 3 shows the number of reported injury road accidents from 1997 onwards by local authority area.

  Table 3: Reported Road Injury Accidents on Scottish Roads by Year and Local Authority, 1997 to 2009

  

 Local Authority
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003


Aberdeen City
594 
546 
479 
466 
408 
398 
366 


Aberdeenshire
693 
673 
598 
558 
559 
585 
556 


Angus
376 
368 
338 
329 
321 
363 
271 


Argyll and Bute
363 
341 
360 
299 
296 
290 
316 


Clackmannanshire
122 
108 
97 
93 
82 
97 
106 


Dumfries and Galloway
424 
458 
388 
421 
436 
425 
447 


Dundee City
401 
369 
387 
367 
396 
359 
316 


East Ayrshire
330 
334 
334 
293 
322 
313 
272 


East Dunbartonshire
255 
251 
244 
247 
230 
222 
184 


East Lothian
236 
230 
237 
258 
239 
224 
204 


East Renfrewshire
206 
201 
197 
182 
163 
132 
171 


Edinburgh, City of
1,991 
2,061 
1,829 
1,891 
1,772 
1,656 
1,465 


Eilean Siar
54 
71 
62 
57 
55 
48 
59 


Falkirk
396 
363 
338 
317 
298 
344 
350 


Fife
806 
733 
712 
785 
734 
740 
719 


Glasgow City
2,432 
2,451 
2,236 
2,175 
2,127 
2,137 
2,080 


Highland
746 
780 
760 
686 
694 
628 
678 


Inverclyde
322 
304 
254 
255 
233 
198 
224 


Midlothian
285 
258 
244 
274 
237 
230 
243 


Moray
237 
190 
163 
206 
177 
172 
178 


North Ayrshire
385 
361 
360 
329 
322 
330 
319 


North Lanarkshire
965 
994 
921 
987 
948 
804 
796 


Orkney Islands
37 
41 
43 
24 
33 
40 
32 


Perth and Kinross
505 
521 
532 
478 
516 
446 
460 


Renfrewshire
567 
529 
536 
479 
467 
478 
528 


Scottish Borders
396 
451 
431 
422 
413 
450 
442 


Shetland Islands
54 
56 
44 
35 
32 
28 
31 


South Ayrshire
332 
309 
337 
336 
326 
300 
300 


South Lanarkshire
949 
979 
931 
901 
845 
867 
796 


Stirling
354 
327 
300 
261 
256 
305 
304 


West Dunbartonshire
278 
309 
233 
260 
247 
243 
229 


West Lothian
555 
552 
490 
460 
539 
491 
476 


Scotland
16,646 
16,519 
15,415 
15,131 
14,723 
14,343 
13,918 



  

 Local Authority
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009*


Aberdeen City
369 
431 
393 
407 
513 
445 


Aberdeenshire
558 
606 
552 
632 
692 
687 


Angus
315 
306 
280 
284 
286 
232 


Argyll and Bute
299 
323 
310 
268 
288 
280 


Clackmannanshire
86 
83 
102 
88 
85 
77 


Dumfries and Galloway
440 
497 
443 
475 
419 
388 


Dundee City
326 
270 
332 
253 
270 
281 


East Ayrshire
308 
261 
257 
240 
230 
213 


East Dunbartonshire
192 
190 
186 
149 
141 
147 


East Lothian
215 
206 
217 
210 
192 
174 


East Renfrewshire
152 
127 
138 
119 
109 
105 


Edinburgh, City of
1,548 
1,405 
1,445 
1,330 
1,286 
1,192 


Eilean Siar
49 
41 
41 
44 
60 
39 


Falkirk
308 
310 
285 
297 
310 
304 


Fife
754 
701 
677 
606 
576 
588 


Glasgow City
2,086 
1,954 
1,873 
1,785 
1,648 
1,509 


Highland
680 
657 
621 
626 
586 
616 


Inverclyde
196 
172 
199 
205 
194 
146 


Midlothian
231 
233 
236 
210 
221 
207 


Moray
177 
166 
163 
175 
194 
197 


North Ayrshire
353 
308 
280 
264 
248 
225 


North Lanarkshire
776 
790 
749 
753 
642 
663 


Orkney Islands
34 
40 
40 
27 
36 
27 


Perth and Kinross
431 
401 
409 
390 
375 
396 


Renfrewshire
485 
468 
455 
426 
372 
310 


Scottish Borders
456 
448 
371 
336 
383 
363 


Shetland Islands
36 
46 
45 
41 
20 
42 


South Ayrshire
273 
284 
270 
262 
220 
266 


South Lanarkshire
785 
740 
722 
689 
669 
598 


Stirling
289 
264 
314 
290 
285 
247 


West Dunbartonshire
246 
227 
225 
201 
148 
175 


West Lothian
466 
483 
480 
424 
460 
408 


Scotland
13,919 
13,438 
13,110 
12,506 
12,158 
11,547 



  Note:

  1. Figures include for accidents occurring on the trunk road network.

  * 2009 figures are provisional.

Scottish Cabinet

Christina McKelvie (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what benefits accrued from the Cabinet’s summer programme.

Bruce Crawford: The Cabinet’s summer programme has given local communities a greater opportunity to speak directly to Ministers about important issues of local and national concern. The Scottish Cabinet visited Dornoch, Stirling, Isle of Bute and Kilmarnock. As well as the formal Cabinet meeting, ministers hosted public meetings on the Government’s "Vision for Scotland", staged receptions to celebrate Scotland’s Year of Food and Drink, and undertook visits and engagements around each meeting. More than 1,000 people attended events as part of the Cabinet’s summer programme

  This year’s summer Cabinet programme follows on from two previous years of successful summer Cabinet events in Dundee, Melrose, Stornoway, Aberdeen, Glasgow, Dumfries, Inverness, Pitlochry and Skye.

  Further information on the Cabinet’s summer programme for this and previous years on the Scottish Government website at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/About/cabinets2010.

Scottish Funding Council

Ms Wendy Alexander (Paisley North) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has considered merging, or plans to merge Skills Development Scotland with the Scottish Funding Council.

Michael Russell: As we made clear in 2007, the Scottish Government is determined to simplify and streamline the public bodies landscape in Scotland, reducing costs and bureaucracy, but improving service delivery. Skills Development Scotland and the Scottish Funding Council - like all our other public bodies - form part of these considerations.

Sensory-Impaired People

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what element of the concordat with local authorities provides detail on support for people with visual impairment.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government concordat with local government does not specifically address support for people with visual impairment.

  This level of detail is more likely to be addressed in a local authority area service plan.

Student Finance

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to the reintroduction of university tuition fees and what the outcome was.

Michael Russell: No consideration has been given to the reintroduction of university tuition fees.

Unemployment

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the level of graduate unemployment was in June (a) 2007, (b) 2008, (c) 2009 and 2010.

Michael Russell: The following table shows the number of unemployed people (aged 20 to 64) with a degree-level qualification in Scotland. This information is drawn from the Labour Force Survey (LFS), for which the latest data covers the April to June quarter of 2010. Information is not available on a comparable basis for 2007 as degree-level unemployment was too low for a robust estimate to be drawn from the survey.

  Table 1: Number of Unemployed People (Aged 20 to 64) and Unemployment Rate for those with a Degree-Level Qualification in Scotland (2008-10)

  

Year
Number of Unemployed People with a Degree Level Qualification
Degree Level Qualification Unemployment Rate


2008 (April to June)
11,000
1.9%


2009 (April to June)
23,000
3.8%


2010 (April to June)
26,000
4.4%



  Source: LFS.

  Notes:

  1. Estimates from the LFS are rounded to the nearest 1,000.

  2. Those aged under 20 have been excluded from the data as a negligible number will have a degree-level qualification at such an early age.

  3. The information includes all those whose highest qualification includes a higher degree, NVQ level 5, first degree/foundation degree or other degree.